James Barnett biography

JAMES BARNETT

a brief personal history

Written by Mrs. John W. Barnett, grand-daughter-in-law

James Barnett was born in Eckington, Worcester, England. He was the son of William Barnett and Elizabeth Fouch. For some unknown reason he did not know the exact date of his birth, but from Parish registers of Eckington, Worcester, England, we learn that he was christened 6 December 1812.

We know little of his early life other than that he lived at Crowle and Stoke Prior, Droitwich Dodderhill Parish, Worcester, England where his first family was born.

He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1842 by Thomas Smith. According to Stoke Prior, Dodderhill Branch records of the British Mission, was rebaptized 25 May 1857, and was very active in the branch.


He married first, Elizabeth Moseley or Mosely, 14 December 1837, and to them were born six children, namely: Ann, 26 April 1839; William, 2 April 1841; Edwin, 22 March 1843; George, 24 May 1845; James, 30 October 1847; and Harriet, 29 July 1850. George and James died as small children. His wife, Elizabeth, died 21 Oct 1850 when Harriet was about three months old.

The following year on 10 August 1851, he married Mary Ann Lacey Green, widow of Henry Green, who died leaving her with four children: Sarah Ann, born 25 May 1843; Emily, 8 October 1845; Joseph, 1847; Mark, 14 September 1850, born after his father's death.

James and Mary Ann were the parents of five children as follows: Thomas, 25 May 1853; Lucy, 14 March 1856; John, 20 October 1858; Eliza, 15 March 1861; Ephraim, 27 July 1863.

They saved and worked hard to come to Zion. James and one son, John, then seven years of age, also a stepdaughter Sarah Ann Green, came to America, leaving the mother and other children to come later. They set sail from Liverpool, England 30 April 1866 with a large company of Saints on the sailing vessel "John Bright". They were on the water six weeks and three days. They landed in New York 6 June 1866.

They journeyed on to Utah, coming part way by boat and train, then were met in Wyoming by teamsters to cross the Plains. They came in Wm. Henry Chipman's company.

During their journey, about 100 head of their cattle were stolen by the Indians and as they traveled on they came upon a Government Wagon Train which had been left afoot by the Indians. They were nine weeks on the Plains.

They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah 15 September 1866. They then went to West Jordan, Salt Lake County to live where they stayed about three years. The stepdaughter had married one of the Mormon teamsters on the "Plaines".

James and his son, John, were sent to Wanship, Summit County about 1869 to help settle the place. In 1871, James's wife, Mary Ann, and daughter, Eliza, came to join the other members of the family who had come between 1866 and 1871.

On 24 June 1872, James and his wife, Mary Ann, went to the Endowment House where they received their endowments and were sealed together for time and all eternity. How great must have been their joy after having to have been so many years striving to get all their family to Zion.

In 1875 they moved to the "Sandridge" which was later called West Layton, Utah, where they homesteaded 160 acres and belonged to the Kaysville Ward, Davis County. While they lived here they were both very active in the Church. James was called many times to administer to the sick and Mary Ann was a midwife and nurse. She delivered many babies and helped care for their mothers.

In 1877 while members of Kaysville Ward, James Barnett was ordained a High Priest by Phiness (sic) Young. The ward at Kaysville covered a large area at that time. One of James's assignments was to gather the Fast Offerings and deliver them to the poor. This he did in a horse drawn carriage, their means of travel in those days. He was very faithful in this service, but on one occasion his horse ran away and he was badly injured. He died from the effects of his injuries on 22 October 1894 at the home of his daughter, Lucy Thurgood, in Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. His remains were brought to Kaysville, Davis County, Utah for burial.

His wife, Mary Ann, lived until 18 June 1913. She also died at the home of her daughter Lucy Thurgood, in Bountiful, Davis County, Utah, and was buried in Kaysville City Cemetery beside her husband.


References:

Endowment House records. Temple records, Logan

Parish Registers. 1851 Census Records. F. Eng. 1 pt. 69 & 65 Gen. Soc. t13656

LDS Branch records Stoke Prior. Worcs. Eng.

Shipping Records, Historians Office.

Birth, marriage and death records, copies of certificates. Kaysville Ward Records.

Kaysville City Burial Records.

Autobiography of Lucy Thurgood.

Conversation with John Barnett born 29 October 1858, father of John W. Barnett born 6 June 1881.

James Barnett received his naturalization papers 6 March 1878 and became a u. S. citizen.